7 days and 22 hours to go. Things are getting pretty serious now. The last of my preparations have to be done tonight as I am off to uni in the morning and will head straight to Sydney afterwards.
My backpack is 2kg heavier than expected which is pretty significant when it's on your back for at least 30 days. I realised that my hoodie is 500g heavier than Geoff's so he has just sacrificed his! I'm really not sure what else I can cut. It's 30 degrees in Pamplona today and most of the next week so I won't be wearing most of my clothes so that won't help. Mind you my socks are pretty thick and I wear them with a liner - just putting them on might help.
Technology helps and hinders. I have all my maps etc on my iPhone instead of paper. I've also downloaded guide and phrase books onto it. On the other hand I have to carry chargers and the solar panel so that adds weight (not as much though). I've seen hikers put their solar panels on their hats and that looks like a good idea so I will see whether it works.
I've had my hair cut today too. Almost short back and sides - I didn't think the hairdresser would agree to do it at one stage. She was mourning all the curls. I assured her they would grow back but she seemed unconvinced.
Funnily I haven't worried much about the walk itself but I am getting nervous. It's occurred to me strongly that not only have I never been to Europe, I've never taken a significant holiday by myself nor been to a country where no one else speaks the language. My general strategy is not to look at barriers if I can't change them and just focus on getting to the goal but eventually you do have to listen to the voices in your head - even if just long enough to tell them to shut up! On the other hand I'm close enough to be able to say that I'm pretty nervous without having to worry that I might talk myself out of going now.
And it will be so new for me to make all my own choices and all based on exactly what I want to do. I wonder if five weeks is long enough to undo the conditioning of a lifetime? I'll get back to you!
